Maharashtra may adopt odd-even plan similar to Delhi

The outcome of the odd-even plan in Delhi will decide the fate of the plan in Maharashtra. The National Congress Party, here, has demanded adoption of the odd-even plan.

Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said, the government would wait for the results of the Delhi experiment to come in before taking a call. "We will do whatever we can and take in all ideas to reduce traffic and pollution levels in Mumbai. It has just been four days now and we can't judge the effects in four days, he said.

NCP Mumbai Unit President Sachin Ahir said, "We need to implement the even-odd car number formula on roads of Mumbai as is being done in Delhi to make Mumbai pollution free. If this plan is successfully implemented, plying of as many as 50 per cent vehicles per day on the roads will be reduced. This will also help in reducing the city's carbon footprint as 26 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions are caused by using petroleum products. In addition to that the city is also seeing an increase in number of tankers, trucks, buses each day."

Since the implementation of the odd-even rule in Delhi, the latest set of air data reports collected at 18 locations across Delhi, show a consistent trend of declining levels of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 air pollution levels. If the reports continue to show favourable readings, we can be assured Maharashtra will adopt the plan soon.